Plastic box

ABSTRACT

A plastic display box having a base with two cut-away side walls and a cover with a top and two side walls each shaped to matingly fit within the cut-away portions of the base-side-walls. The base has on its underside peripheral stacking ribs and the cover includes ribs on its top surface so that the base and cover ribs can interfit to provide stacking cooperation.

United States Patent [191 J acobsen Oct. 22, 1974 PLASTIC BOX [76] Inventor: Robert K. Jacobsen, 3121 N. Nagel Ave., Chicago, 111. 60634 [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 362,422

[52] US. Cl 206/45.34, 206/73, 220/60 R, 220/D1G. 25

[51] Int. Cl B65d 1/36, B65d 43/02 [58] Field of Search 206/73, 315, 467, 45.34, 206/425; 220/60 R, DIG. 25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1932 Fraser 206/73 12/1956 Badalich 206/73 X 2,997,168 8/1961 Tall 206/73 X 3,232,39 2/1966 McCoy 206/73 X 3,563,370 2/1971 Nozctte 220/60 R X 3,586,158 6/1971 Muscaticllo 220/60 R X 3,622,063 11/1971 McVeigh 220/D1G. 25

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton [57] ABSTRACT A plastic display box having a base with two cut-away side walls and a cover with a top and two side walls each shaped to matingly fit within the cut-away portions of the base-side-walls. The base has on its underside peripheral stacking ribs and the cover includes ribs on its top surface so that the base and cover ribs can interfit to provide stacking cooperation.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PLASTIC nox BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to display boxes for playing cards and the like.

Display-type boxes for playing cards are well known and normally include a base having four upstanding walls for holding the cards and a slightly larger cover with four depending side walls for telescopingly fitting over the base. By virtue of this arrangement, two sets of walls are provided around the entire box. In another arrangement, a box is provided which has a four-wall base and a two-wall snap-lock cover; however, this still requires a double wall along two of the sides.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a display box for playing cards which has only a single set of walls so as to reduce the amount of material used and the cost of manufacturing the box.

This and other objects will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of a box for two decks of playing cards showing the base portion with the cover portion spaced thereabov'e;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a base as in FIG. 1 with the cover secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the method for removing the cover portion so as to open the box;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a plurality of boxes stacked one on top of the other;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing the base of a box for a single deck of playing cards; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the base as shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a rectangularly-shaped plastic box i0 generally for holding two decks of playing cards which includes a base 12 and a cover 14. The base is of a molded plastic material, such as opaque polystyrene, and includes a bottom 16 and two opposed side walls 18 and 20 along the long edges of the bottom 16. Corner forming and card retaining end wall sections, such as 22 and 24, are provided at each end of each of the side walls 18 and 20, and lie in a plane transverse to the bottom and side walls. These walls extend inwardly toward each other for a short distance but do not define a continuous end wall. Thus the space between the tapered ends 22a and 24a defines the cut-away section. The ends are tapered so as to facilitate molding of the box.

Each of a pair of compartment dividing ribs 26 and 28 are centrally positioned along a side wall between the ends thereof. These ribs are opposed, extend inwardly from the side wall for a short distance andhave tapered end portions 26a and 28a. By virtue of these ribs the base is divided into two card receiving compartments so as to hold two decks of cards in side-byside relation. The decks are held so that the top and bottom ends of the cards are positioned against the side walls while a portion of one side of each deck abuts the compartment dividing ribs 26 and 28 and the other side of each deck abuts the corner forming walls, such as 22 and 24. Each of the side walls 18 and 20 extend downwardly below the underside of the bottom 16 so as to cooperate in providing a flange-like stacking member, such as 18a and 20a. Similar flange-like stacking members, such as 22b and 24b, are provided under each of the corner-forming walls, such as 22 and 24.

The cover member 14 is of a molded plastic material, such as transparent polystyrene, and includes a top portion 30 and two depending side walls 32 and 34, each of which has tapering ends, such as 34a and 34 b. Each of the side walls 32 and 34 are shaped to fit within the cut-away wall portions in the base 12. Adjacent the lowermost edge of each of the depending side walls, there are provided locking tabs, such as 36 and 38, for cooperation with the underside of the base bottom 16. A pair of riblike stacking members 40 and Marc provided along the top surface of the cover and extend in a direction generally parallel to the end or short edges of the cover.

The cover is of a size and shape so that when it is fitted over the base: (a) the peripheral edges of the top engage the top edges of the base walls; (b) the depending side walls 32 and 34 matingly fit within the cutaway portion formed between the ends of the corner forming walls, such as 22 and 24, thereby providing a smooth, single-thick end wall; and (c) the locking tabs, such as 36 and 38, releasably grasp the underside of the bottom 16 so as to securely hold the top 30 against the upper edges of the base walls.

In order to open the box, the side wall 34 is grasped from beneath the bottom 16 and is flexed outwardly and upwardly. This flexing releases the tabs 36 and 38 from the underside of the bottom and permits the cover to be lifted off of the base. The decks of cards can then be removed from the base.

Another feature of this structure provides for convenient non-slip stacking of a plurality of the boxes. The rib-like stacking members, such as 40, are spaced inwardly from the end of the cover so as to permit stacking cooperation with the flange-like stacking members, such as 22b and 24b. The ends 40a and b of each riblike stacking member terminates inwardly of the cover edges so as to permit stacking cooperation with the flange-like stacking members, such as 18a and 20a. This permits slip-free stacking of a plurality of boxes in an attractive display.

Boxes for single decks of playing cards are manufactured using the same basic construction as disclosed for the two-deck boxes. There are two sizes of playing cards each of which have the same length but a different width. Poke-r cards have a larger width than the common or bridge-type playing card. The box 50 as shown in FIG. 5 is arranged to receive the narrower width bridge-type playing card. Here the cut-away portions are also provided along the short edge or end of the box which in this arrangement are at the same ends as the top and bottom of the playing cards. A pair of inner integrally molded, spacing ribs 52 and 54 are provided at central positions along the side walls of the box and extend inwardly therefrom. The distance each rib extends inwardly is approximately equal to one-half the difference in width between a poker card and a common playing card. The cover construction for the single deck display boxes is substantially identical with that used in the two-deck display box.

In the event that the boxes are to be used for poker cards, the ribs 52 and 54 are omitted during molding so that the side edges of the cards fit up against the side walls of the base.

It will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a rectangular plastic box for playing cards having a card-receiving base member and a removable cover, the improvement which comprises: said base member having a bottom, a pair of opposed upstanding side walls each of which extend along the long side of said bottom, and corner forming and card retaining end wall means at each end of each side wall, each of said end wall means being transverse to said side wall and said bottom and relatively short with respect to the length of said end so that a cut-away type space is defined at each end of the base between the ends of the end wall means along that end; and said cover member having a top of a size to overlie the upper edges of said side walls and said corner forming wall means, a pair of opposed end wall means depending from said top and of a size and shape to fit within the cut-away-type space, and tab means on the inner side of each depending end wall adjacent the lowermost edge thereof for releasable locking cooperation with the underside of the bottom of said base so as to firmly hold the top against the upper edges of said walls, and said cover being of a flexible material so that either of said depending walls can be flexed so as to effectuate releasable locking cooperation.

2. A box as in claim 1 which is shaped and adapted to receive two decks of playing cards in side-by-side relation so that each of the top and bottom edges of each of the decks engage one of the side walls of said base, said base further including a pair of compartment dividing rib means, each of which are associated with a side wall, extend inwardly therefrom, are substantially centered therealong, and are transverse to both said side wall and bottom, so as to divide said box into two compartments, one for each deck of cards.

3. A box as in claim 1 of a size and shape to receive a single deck of cards so that the top and bottom edges of said cards engage the end wall means of said base and the side walls are spaced apart a distance about equal to the width of a poker-size card.

4. A box as in claim 3 which is adapted to receive a deck of playing cards which are of a lesser width than said poker cards and said box further includes a pair of card engaging rib means, each of which are associated with a side wall, are transverse to said side wall and said bottom, and extend inwardly a distance about equal to one-half the difference between the width of a poker card and a playing card so as to engage the sides of a deck of lesser width playing cards.

5. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said corner forming end wall means are tapered and the upper edge is shorter than the lower edge adjacent the bottom, and the depending end walls on said cover are shaped to matingly fit within the space defined by the tapered edges of two aligned walls so as to provide a flush fit therewith.

6. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said base includes flange-like stacking means along the edge of the ,underside of said bottom which stacking means are aligned with said side and corner forming walls; and said'cover includes stacking rib means on the top surface of said cover which are of a size and shape for nonslip stacking cooperation with the stacking ribs of a base.

7. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said base is a unitary molded plastic member and said cover is a unitary, molded, transparent plastic member.

8. A plastic box, for playing cards or the like constructed to minimize the cost of plastic utilized in forming the box, comprising, in combination: unitary base means shaped to provide a rectangular bottom, opposite upright walls along two edges of the bottom, and spaced upright wall sections along the other two edges of the bottom providing lateral access through the lateral spaces bounded by the wall sections to the contents of the base means; and a unitary cover means shaped to provide a rectangular top of a dimension to overlie the upper edges of said upright walls and wall sections, and opposed dependent wall sections of a shape and dimension and arranged to enter the lateral spaces of the base means, and inwardly facing tabs at the ends of the dependent wall sections distal from the top and adapted to snap under the bottom to releasably grip same when the cover means is assembled on the base means, and to provide when assembled a box with a single-thickness, substantially continuous wall surrounding the interior of the box. 

1. In a rectangular plastic box for playing cards having a cardreceiving base member and a removable cover, the improvement which comprises: said base member having a bottom, a pair of opposed upstanding side walls each of which extend along the long side of said bottom, and corner forming and card retaining end wall means at each end of each side wall, each of said end wall means being transverse to said side wall and said bottom and relatively short with respect to the length of said end so that a cut-away type space is defined at each end of the base between the ends of the end wall means along that end; and said cover member having a top of a size to overlie the upper edges of said side walls and said corner forming wall means, a pair of opposed end wall means depending from said top and of a size and shape to fit within the cut-away-type space, and tab means on the inner side of each depending end wall adjacent the lowermost edge thereof for releasable locking cooperation with the underside of the bottom of said base so as to firmly hold the top against the upper edges of said walls, and said cover being of a flexible material so that either of said depending walls can be flexed so as to effectuate releasable locking cooperation.
 2. A box as in claim 1 which is shaped and adapted to receive two decks of playing cards in side-by-side relation so that each of the top and bottom edges of each of the decks engage one of the side walls of said base, said base further including a pair of compartment dividing rib means, each of which are associated with a side wall, extend inwardly therefrom, are substantially centered therealong, and are transverse to both said side wall and bottom, so as to divide said box into two compartments, one for each deck of cards.
 3. A box as in claim 1 of a size and shape to receive a single deck of cards so that the top and bottom edges of said cards engage the end wall means of said base and the side walls are spaced apart a distance about equal to the width of a poker-size card.
 4. A box as in claim 3 which is adapted to receive a deck of playing cards which are of a lesser width than said poker cards and said box further includes a pair of card engaging rib means, each of which are associated with a side wall, are transverse to said side wall and said bottom, and extend inwardly a distance about equal to one-half the difference between the width of a poker card and a playing card so as to engage the sides of a deck of lesser width playing cards.
 5. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said corner forming end wall means are tapered and the upper edge is shorter than the lower edge adjacent the bottom, and the depending end walls on said cover are shaped to matingly fit within the space defined by the tapered edges of two aligned walls so as to provide a flush fit therewith.
 6. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said base includes flange-like stacking means along the edge of the underside of said bottom which stacking means are aligned with said side and corner forming walls; and said cover includes stacking rib means on the top surface of said cover which are of a size and shape for non-slip stacking cooperation with the stacking ribs of a base.
 7. A plastic box as in claim 1 wherein said base is a unitary molded plastic member and said cover is a unitary, molded, transparent plastic member.
 8. A plastic box, for playing cards or the like constructed to minimize the cost of plastic utIlized in forming the box, comprising, in combination: unitary base means shaped to provide a rectangular bottom, opposite upright walls along two edges of the bottom, and spaced upright wall sections along the other two edges of the bottom providing lateral access through the lateral spaces bounded by the wall sections to the contents of the base means; and a unitary cover means shaped to provide a rectangular top of a dimension to overlie the upper edges of said upright walls and wall sections, and opposed dependent wall sections of a shape and dimension and arranged to enter the lateral spaces of the base means, and inwardly facing tabs at the ends of the dependent wall sections distal from the top and adapted to snap under the bottom to releasably grip same when the cover means is assembled on the base means, and to provide when assembled a box with a single-thickness, substantially continuous wall surrounding the interior of the box. 